It
is arguably a trait manifested by leaders and could be as rare as
leadership? Supposedly high-end supermarkets in the US have had to
recall their own store brands because of salmonella illnesses, a job
for the leadership? The Clinton speech during the Democratic
convention was credited for giving Obama the “convention bounce.”
He keeps things simple and his exposition of ideas comes across, even
to the opposition, with ease and grace because of the poetry in his
prose – even when extemporaneous. In contrast, Obama’s
performance in the first debate with Romney was unpresidential.
Supposedly the most powerful person, briefed on major national and
global issues on an ongoing basis not to be in command of them makes
his leadership suspect?
The
trait is ever present in the corporate world. At GE, for instance,
the succession plans Jack Welch had and his ultimate choice of his
successor confirmed that GE is a great school for leaders – as
those who didn’t get the job became CEOs themselves in similarly
high-profile companies. I’ve seen it during my years with an MNC
and how senior executives would readily identify managers we would
move around the world. And the next question would always be: who do
we assign in her place. And across the board the leaders that were
groomed for senior jobs were clear thinkers. They could “keep it
simple” – and truly lead their organizations knowing where and
how to get the people focused, on the right things.
And in the Philippines
this reality is present too; whether it is “Tatang” Sy or Ramon
Ang, head honchos like them come across as clear thinkers. And it
brings us to the saga of the North Rail! Not again! Where is the
outrage that we are once again going to the international arbitration
court? We haven’t resolved NAIA 3 yet! We have become so callous
about incompetence that we can’t even get biddings of projects done
right? And so projects are left in limbo! Is corruption behind the
incompetence and so it is in fact incompetence by design?
Could leaders be clear
thinkers because there is integrity in their thinking? Which means
they won’t simply compromise? And isn’t corruption a product of
being unhinged that opens the door wide open for compromise?
Unfortunately, when we call for compassion or inclusive or nuanced or
whatever, the downside side is it opens up more not less compromise
and sooner than later corruption has already reared its ugly head?
"P101.8B lost to graft," blares the Manila Bulletin,
5th Oct 2012. "COA lists 19 government schemes to siphon off
taxpayers' money."
On the other hand we
believe libel in the cyber law is a priority – a clear and present
danger? – but couldn't hide our bias against the anti-money
laundering legislation? Indeed our society is dictated by the aims of
our elites – and that to be a paid lackey is not uncommon that even
senators talk openly about it? Is poor Juan de la Cruz ever to
worry about libel or which foreign account to keep the less than
$2-a-day he makes? In the meantime we keep pointing an accusing
finger at others and hidethe embarrassment of being economic laggards
yet when one comes down to it, PHL is about a hierarchical society
that lends itself to abuse and finding solace behind the skirt of
Christian charity?
We must capitalize on the
new look foreign investors are giving us (thanks to “daang
matuwid”) if we want those potential new investments to
materialize? And we must have clear-thinking leadership to move
critical infrastructure and strategic industries forward?
Unfortunately, major projects are in limbo? Or power: should RE be in
our portfolio to address (a) power shortage and (b) costs? Whatever
it is, as a legislator laments, vested interests are fighting to
preserve the status quo! With the world moving forward, the status
quo means PHL is kept behind – as our laundry list of challenges
expands. And that is a very bad sign because it is moving us farther
away from economic development while perpetuating a lopsided economy
– with poverty and oligarchy representing two sides of the same
coin.
We have our job cut out
for us; we can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot and face the
world from a position of weakness – that we are a small
underdeveloped nation. We can't pigeon-hole ourselves as such which,
unfortunately, we carry because of our hierarchical culture? We are
what we are because of decades of missteps that we must correct.
We can’t be forever young?
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